World War II Victoria Cross Recipient, and the only Canadian chaplain ever to receive the award. He was born to Gordon Benjamin Weir and Helena Weir in Madoc, Ontario, Canada, and was educated in local common schools, before attending the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, and McGill University and The Presbyterian College both in Montreal, Quebec. In 1929, he married Edith Geraldine Sheridan. After his education, he entered the Presbyterian Ministry and served the areas of Port Hope, Ontario, and Fort-Coulonge, Quebec, beginning in 1934. In 1934, he also became a member of the distinguished Loyal Orange Association and was initiated into the Fraserville Loyal Orange Lodge No.46 in Fraserville, Ontario. In December of 1939 when the Second World War broke out he enlisted with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment or RHLI), Canadian Chaplain Services as the Regimental Chaplain with the rank of Honorary Captain. He was sent overseas with the rest of his infantry and while the Dieppe Raid in Dieppe, France, was being fought for eight hours on August 19, 1942, he helped many men who were wounded get to safety. Not concerned with his own safety he walked about for hours looking for wounded men. His gallantry and courageous act saved many lives that day. At one point during the heaviest fighting, he climbed out of the landing craft that was going to take him to safety and walked right into the German position to be taken as a Prisoner of War so that he could help the men who had already been captured and he would be held there until May 5, 1945. Following the war, he returned to Canada and continued with his religious pursuits. The following year he learned that the King of England had approved his permission for him to be awarded the distinguished Victoria Cross Medal for his bravery during World War II. His Victoria Cross Medal was gazetted after World War II on February 14, 1946. His citation reads-At Dieppe, on 19th August 1942, Honorary Captain Foote, Canadian Chaplain Services, was Regimental Chaplain with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry. Upon landing on the beach under heavy fire he attached himself to the Regimental Aid Post which had been set up in a slight depression on the beach, but which was only sufficient to give cover to men lying down. During the subsequent period of approximately eight hours, while the action continued, this officer not only assisted the Regimental Medical Officer in ministering to the wounded in the Regimental Aid Post, but time and again left this shelter to inject morphine, give first-aid and carry wounded personnel from the open beach to the Regimental Aid Post. On these occasions, with utter disregard for his personal safety, Honorary Captain Foote exposed himself to an inferno of fire and saved many lives by his gallant efforts. During the action, as the tide went out, the Regimental Aid Post was moved to the shelter of a stranded landing craft. Honorary Captain Foote continued tirelessly and courageously to carry wounded men from the exposed beach to the cover of the landing craft. He also removed wounded from inside the landing craft when ammunition had been set on fire by enemy shells. When landing craft appeared he carried wounded from the Regimental Aid Post to the landing craft through very heavy fire. On several occasions, this officer had the opportunity to embark but returned to the beach as his chief concern was the care and evacuation of the wounded. He refused a final opportunity to leave the shore, choosing to suffer the fate of the men he had ministered to for over three years. Honorary Captain Foote personally saved many lives by his efforts and his example inspired all around him. Those who observed him state that the calmness of this heroic officer, as he walked about, collecting the wounded on the fire-swept beach will never be forgotten. He served the rest of his military career in the Canadian Army and remained with the Canadian Corps of Chaplains at Camp Borden in Ontario later receiving the rank of Major until the unit was demobilized in 1948. After his military career ended, he decided to enter politics. He ran for a seat in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario during the Provincial Election of 1948 and also served as the Progressive Conservative Member of Provincial Parliament for the Durham Electoral District of Ontario. He also served as Deputy Commissioner for the Liquor Control Board of Ontario, and then as the Minister of Reform Institutions of Ontario in the cabinet of Premier Leslie Frost from 1950 to 1957. He eventually had to leave the position of Minister of Reform Institutions following a series of heart attacks in 1957. He retired from public service, fully in 1959. He returned to the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry and served with the unit as an Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel from 1964 to 1973. He passed away in Cobourg, Ontario, after suffering from heart problems and a bout of the flu three days before his 84th birthday and was buried with full military honours in the Union Cemetery. His wife Edith predeceased him in 1986 and is buried with her husband. His Victoria Cross Medal was donated to the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry shortly before his death and is on display in there Heritage Museum. The James Street Armoury in Hamilton, Ontario, where the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry is now based, along with The Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise's) and 11 Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery, was renamed the John W. Foote VC Armoury in his memory. The Royal Canadian Legion Branch in Grafton, Ontario, was renamed the Lt. Col. John W Foote V.C.C.D. Branch 580 in his honour in 1982.